Time stamp



Dec. 12, 1933. c. E. LARRABEE ne 12, 1928 e Sheets-Sheet 1 FIQ Dec. 12, 1933. c. E. LARRABEE TIME STAMP Filed June 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12, 1933. c. E. LARRABEE 1,939,066

TIME STAMP Filed June 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG] lliiiu I ////II///I//I/// s) 3O vim I890:

EM WW,

Dec. 12, 1933. c. E. LARRABEE TIME STAMP Filed June 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 12, 1933. c. E. LARRABEE 1,939,066

TIME STAMP Filed June 12, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGJ4.

HII II-II JAIL 'IUIIIIII II I I. III-'- III-HINDU) Patented Dec. 1 2, g

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME STAMP Clinton E. Larrabee, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor,

by mesne assignments, tolnternational Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.'Y., a corporation of New York Application June 12, 1928. Serial No. 284,767

9 Claims. (Cl. 234-56) This invention relates to improvements in time Fig. 10 is a section through lines 1010 of recording devices and more'particularly to im- Fig. 4; provements in time stamps. Fig. 11 is a detail of transfer gears; One of the objects of the invention is to pro-'- Fig. 12 is a plan view of Fig. 11; 5 vide a printing mechanism which may be readily Fig. 13 is a detail of impositive stops on day removed for inspection or replacement independwheel and month wheel shafts shown looking ent of the motor mechanism for driving said from linesll-ll'of-Fig. 6; printing mechanism. Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram showing method of' Another object is to provide new and improved operating type wheel. H 1 -means for removing the casing enclosing the This time stamp is of a class'commonly known printing mechanism to render said mechanism as a printing head type time stamp and may comaccessible for inspection without interrupting the p s a as 2 in w h s m t d a p t 21 operation of the same. I and to which is pivotally attached at 22 an arm 23 Still another object is to provide an improved having mou d o O d thereof a printing 15 construction for a printing head type time stamp head which is encased by two side plates 24 and whereby the arm carrying the printing and motor 24a'and a front plate 25 and to which is fixed mechanisms may be removed from the base withan operating handle 2 Within the Printing out disturbing the restoring spring for the arm. head are located type wheels and their associated vA further object is to provide a new and imactuating and transferring mechanisms together 2 proved connection between the ,arm and the with anink ribbon withits associated feeding spring which restores it. and reversing mechanism, all of. which will be A still further object is to provide improved pla d in detail l The yp W s a e means for manually setting the type wheels withadvanced by timed electric impulses such as may out disconnecting the driving mechanism there'- be i itiated by a as oc diagrammatically 25 from. shown-in Fig. 14. When an operator desires to 0* A still further object is to provide an improved p int r stamp t inf ati d s at d y th and novel construction for manually setting the type W e Within the printing e 0 So e type wheels in the train. aricle, 'said'article is placed over the platen '21 Still another object is to provide means to enand under the Printing head and the Operator 30 able said stamp to be operated in conjunction with presses d w up e handle 26 thus moving the an electrical system of the self regulating type type head downward about its pivot 22 and into whereby said stamp will becorrected periodically contact with the article to be stamped which is should it getout of synchronism with other units Supported by the p t non the game system The information indicated by'the type wheel I 35 Other objects and advantages of this invention at e time of Stamping Wi 11 be Printed Y h f will be apparent from the specifications and the of Sa1d n lts coecfimefrlbben F h 4 accompanying drawings which show one embodi a i thereon prmted reglstreilon as ment of this invention and wherein similar ref-- P P m F ,When the t g the erence numerals indicate similar parts and printing head it uses from the article ust printed 40 wherein in the drawings: go a polsitioicii slhgwn in Fig. 1, by means which will -1 I eexpaine aer;

-iPg iflij fi igfg3221 3; Stamp Y The side plate 24 (Figs. 1,5, 7 and 8) isprovided T with a notched lug 2'7 fixed at the inside front ietall'smwmg the method of mount end and a hooked member 28 fixed on the'inside mg the prmt'mg head on the arm; rear end. To mount the side plate 24 onto-the Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the time printing head the notched. lug 27 is slid. from stamp; i the front into a notch 29 provided in the side 4a is a detailed. view of the spring anchor; supporting frame 30 one of which is provided on 5 is Section on line of 4; each side of the printing head to support the type 50 Fig 6 is a Seaman on line 6 6 of 4; Wheels and associated mechanisms. The hooked .105

'Fig. 7 is a left side elevation Of head with member 28 is then engaged with an annular c ve plate Cut y; groove around the end of the rod 31, said rod Fig.8 is aright side elevation of head with'cover being j rn lledi bushings 32 mounted on the plate cutaway; supporting frames 30 and 30a and being held 55 Fig. 9 is a section through lines 9-9 of Fig. 4; from lateral movement by the hooks 28. The

' into the tapped hole.

'to render the ends 'of these shafts accessible so that they may be turned by means of a suitable key in order to manually set the type. V

The front plate of thecasing'is providedwith a lug at each lower corner. The plate is frames 24 are mounted, the lugs 35 being engaged in the notches 29 of the side supporting frames 30 and 30a. The top of the plate 25 has a hole which coincides with a tapped hole in the cross piece 36 which is an integral part of] the arm 23. v

When the front plate is placed imposition, with the two holes just mentioned coinciding, the

handle 26 containinga threaded stud 37.:isscrewed down tightly onto the plate by screwing said stud This holds the front plate 25 firmly in position. The outside edges of the front plate turn down and over the upper edges of the side frames thusiorrning a complete housing for the printing head. I

' .A large hole witha bezel 38 fixed to the rim of said hole is provided in the plate to make visible a clock dial-which coincides with, said hole 33 when the first plate is in position. Theusual well known dial,- hands, dial ring, protection glass and dialworks are all mounted on and supported by a bracket 39 fastened securely to the ide supporting frames 30. These are furnished as a matter of convenience for the operator to be able to tell the time as well ,as serveas an indication of what the time stamp is about to print.

On the base 20 of the device is fixed a platen 21. of suitable resilient material and in the base is a spring so attached at oneend to a stud 41 fixed to the base and attached atthe other end it two hooked members which coact with 'a stop bar l4 fixed to the base 20 (Figs. 4 and 4a) In the plate 42 are twoholes 42a through which project tail pieces 5 of the'arm' 23; I The purpose of the stop bar d lis to limit the amount which the spring may act onthearm 23. Said .action of the spring down the tail pieces 45' arm is pivoted on a rod 46 journalled the base 20 and held from lateral motionby. enlarged portions at each end of the rod. Gne of the enlarged ends beingv removable from the pivot rod Fill to permit the rod to be withdrawn. The

moves the arm-23 clockwise until the hooked members d3 come in contact with the stop bar i so that normally the printinghead is held up fromv the printing. platen 21 as illustrated in. l. When the printing head is depressed the: tail pieces 45coacting with the holes in the plate 42;. displace said'platexto the "right against the tension of the spring ll) which spring returns the arm 23 {and its associated pri ting head to its normally raised position as soon as the force causing said printing head to be depressed is I removed. If it is desired to remove the arm from the base for the purpose of replacement and inspectcn the pivot rod 46 is removed by first removingthe nut'22 and then withdrawing said rod from its journals. The arm23 may then be liftedout of cooperation'with the base ZilWithdrawingthe tail pieces 4.5 iromthe holes in the anchor plate 32 said plate remaining held in position by the hooked members 43- cooperating withthe fixed bar 44; This eliminates the'cusitomary necessity of removing the cover plate from the base and disengaging the spring.

The arm 23 is hollow having a channel formed cross-section with the under side open. Mounted therein ismotor drive assembly consisting of a bracket 48, a magnet 49 and" an armature .50 (Fig. i). The bracket 48 is held firmly to the arm 23 by'means of twoT shaped studs'5l fixed to the arm 23' and projecting through and slid- 1 l -.a"-"' e. mounted on the printing head after the side woperatmr Wlth two elongated ml 5 These holes being large enough at one end to rehole 52 presents itself to the stud 51 which would cause the bracket to become disengaged from the arm 23. Formed up on opposite sides of the bracket to and integral with it are two ears 54, one of which isnotshown. These ears journal on shaft 55 about which the armature 5G pivots.

ceive the large head of the stud and smaller than Also formed up on one side only andintegralwith.

the bracket 48 is a projection 56 shown dotted in Fig. 4 said projection forming a support for;

a lever 57 pivoted at 58.. The end of the bracket 48 opposite the screw 53 is formed downwardly and to this downwardly formed portion isrigid- 137 fixed the core of the magnet 49 by means of. a screw 59 passing through a holein the bracket.

and engaging a threaded hole in the end of the core. Also fastened tothe bracket 48 by means screws .68 is an insulated terminal block 61 to which are fastened the wires from the multiwire cable 62 which ispas'sed through a hole. in the lower rear of the arm 23, said hole being lined with any wellknown type of insulating bushing- 63 for the protection of the :cable. To remove the magnet 49, the printing head isswung for ward as illustrated in Fig. 3 and in a manner to be described later, the insulatingblock 61 is detached by removing, the'screws 68, the screw-53 is removedand the bracket e8 .i s moved to the right asviewed in Fig. 4 bringing the enlarged portion of the holes 52 opposite the enlarged head i of thestu'ds 51 so that the-bracket 43 with the magnet is attached thereto may be removed from the arm 23.

The. printing head consist s of two side supporting plates 30 and 30a and two intermediate supporting plates79 and 89 which form the supporting structure for the printing mechanism. These supporting plates are h'eldiniixed spaced ionship to each other by the tie rods 31,

fastened to the side supporting framesby. the

sc'r we 82. The side supporting platesandintermediate plates will hereinafter be designated as frame members.

The printing head is-fixed tothe end of thearm' by means of .slidable rods 31 and 63 which pass through holes in the frame members 30 and 39a and the arm 23' such as indicated at 64 and 65 respectively in Fig.3. When the device'is assembled for operation these rods are prevented from'transverse movementi-by the side frames 24. When it is desiredv to. replace the ribbon or casually inspect the printing mechanism the .L

housing plates 24 and'25 are removed and the rod 1 is withdrawn. The printing headis then swungforward in the position as shown in Fig.

c, which permits of such inspection. ,If, however, adjustments or replacements arerequired in the mechanism, the pin 63 is withdrawn and the printing head is thereby completely detached from the printing arm. This form of construction permits the substitution of one printing head for another Without disassembling the mechanism of said printing head. This is a distinct advantage inasmuch as the printing head unit is small of size and weight compared with the device as a whole and can therefore be more readily carried by a service man without inconvenience so that if a customer requires a new typearrangement or a thorough overhauling of the mechanism the service man can substitute another printing head as a relief while the necessary repairs or alterations are'being made, without interrupting the customers service or disconnecting the wiring to the machine which would be'necessary if the complete device was interchanged.

Mounted on the arm'23 (see Fig. 3) is an insulating block 66 in which are mounted three terminal posts 67. The terminal posts are provided with insulated sleeves and extend through to the hollow portion inside of the arm 23 and there are attached to three wires the purposes of which will later be described. Fixed to the terminal posts 67 are split blades 68 which cooperate with switch blades 69 in the same manner that a switch blade cooperates with a split 3 blade in the usual well known type of knife" switch. Whenthe printing head is swung-for ward in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 the switch blades 69 become disengaged from the split blades 68 and when in operating position the switch blades and split blades make contact as indicated in Fig. 7. The switch blades 69 are mounted on an insulating block '70 said block being fixed to the frame member 30. Fixed to the end of the switch blades 69 are three contact brushes 71, 72 and 73 which wipe three separate paths on. the face of a gear 74 made of a suitable insulating material. On the face of the gear are mounted a contact ring 75 and two contact segments 76 and 77 which constitutes acommutator coacting with the brushes '73, 72 and 71 respectively. Contact ring 75 contacts withcontact-segment 76 and said contact segment contacts with contact segment '77. The gear '74 roframe member at the other.

tates on a stud 78 fixed to the frame member 30. Operation of printing mechanism .Fixed to the armature (Fig. 4) is an angu-- lar member 83 one leg of which restson the head of an adjusting screw 84, mounted in a lever 85,

' said lever being fixed to a shaft 86 journalled in the frame members 30 and 30a (Figs. 4 and 5). Turning the adjusting screw 84.raises orlowers the coacting leg of the angular member 83 thereby moving the armature 50 about its pivot thus adjusting the amount of-travel the arma-- ture makes when drawn against the pole facef of the magnet 49 uponenergization of said magnet. When the magnet 49-is energized itsarmature 50 being attracted moves counterclockwise about its pivot 55 and through the member 83 attached thereto moves the.. lever -85,. and therefore the shaft 86 clockwise as viewed in Fig." 4

To one end of the shaft 86 (seealso Figs. 5,

and 7) is fixed a lever87 biased downwardly by a spring 88 attached at one end to an anchor post 89 fixed to said lever and attached to the right angles to the'lever 87 is a projection 90 which acts as a limit stop to thedriving pawl 91 pivotally mounted on thelever 87 by means of a Formed over at stud 92 fixed to said lever. The pawl 91 is biased in acounterclockwise directionabout its pivot by spring 93 attached to the-pawl 91' at one end and to the lever 8'7 at the other. Said pawl has three projections indicated by reference characters 94, and 96. The projection 94 coacts with the projection 90 to limit the movement of the pawl 91 in its counterclockwise rotation when said 'pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 97. The projection 95 coacts with the ratchet wheel 97 to limit the travel of the lever 8'7 when it is moved downwardly to advance said ratchet wheel and also serves to cam the pawl 91 out of its normally locked position when a manual setting operation is effected as will be explained later. The projection 96 coacts with theteeth of the ratchet wheel 97 to move said wheel in a counterclockwise direction a space of onetooth each time the lever 87 is moved up and down once which constitutes one cycle of operation. This projection or pawl 96 when in its home position as shown in Fig. 7 K

is in the plane of the member 99a which is rigidly fixed to the plate 30 by the screws 99b and 82, said projection also abutting the edge of the member 99a. The pawl 91 also acts as an im'-.

positive lock thus permitting the ratchet wheel 97 to be turned manually by means of a key, not shown, which fits the key receiving portion of the shaft 98 to which said ratchet wheel is fixed. When said ratchet wheel is turned in such a pawl eng es the teeth of said ratchet wheel to prevent the ratchet wheel from being moved in a clockwise direction. I

Each time, therefore, that the magnet 49 is energized the pawl 91 is raised so that it engages the next tooth on the ratchet wheel 97' adjacent to which it was previously engaged. When said magnet is next deenergized the pawl 91 will move downward causing the ratchet wheel 97 to. turn counterclockwise the distance of onetooth thus also turning the shaft 98 an equivalent amount.

, The shaft 98 which hereinafter will be termed the drive shaft, is journalled in the side sup porting plate 30 and the intermediate supporting plate '79. Fixed to said drive shaft is a gear 101 which meshes with the gear 74 and drives it in synchronism with the type wheels'to effect contact between the brushes 71, 72 and 73, as previously explained, at the proper time in the cycle of operation of the type wheels (Figs. 6

and 9) Also fixed to the drive shaft 98 is a gear 102 which meshes with a gear 103 fixed to a sleeve 104 rotatably mounted on another sleeve 105 which in turn is rotatably mounted on a shaft 106 journalled in the plates 30 and '79. Fixed to the sleeve 104 is a unit of minute type Wheels 107 bearing characters'0 to 9and fixed to the sleeve 105 is a ten minute type wheel 108 bearing characters 0 to 5. Also rotatably mounted on the shaft are two type wheels 109 and 110. The first mentioned type wheel bears characters from lto l2 representing the hours and hereinafter termed the hour wheel, the second mentionedtypewheel bears characters A. M. and P. M. and hereinafter termed the meridian wheel. 'Rotatably mounted 3521; cent members are spur one. stud 111, (Fig. 10) fixedito' the intermediate, supporting plate'flilis avday. wheel 112 bearing characters 1 to 31. A month type Wheel 113 bear ing the charactersjof every month in the year 5.; thereon is fixed to a sleeve 114 mounted rotatably on:,a:shaft;1l5, said shaft being supported atjeach'.

end by the supportingplates 30A and 8G. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve 114 is, a year type wheel 116 having a plurality of yearly date char-.

acters thereon.

, The type wheels just-described are driven in train, and locked intrain in such a manner that" each-type wheel both drives and locks its next succeeding type wheel with the exception that the, day wheel 112 does not drive or lock the month wheel 113. Provisions are made for-manually. setting the. month wheel which will be explained later. .The transfer ofrotation'from one type Wheel to another wherein one type wheel is caused 1 3 to drive the adjacent type wheel at intermittent periods .is produced by the well known Geneva type of construction'whereina series of disks 117a,

1172), 1170, 117d and 11.72 are fixed either directly to the type wheels 107, 5108, 103, 110-.and 116 re-= 251-5 spectively or to the' sleeves on which said type, wheels are mountedin such a manner that each disk turns with its respective type wheel (Figs: 9, and .11). Fixed either directly to the type wheels 108, 109, 110, 116 or to-the sleeves on 3.0; which they are mounted,:in a similarmanner to the p'reviously..mentioned disks; are gears 118a,

illjithe periphery, '(Fig; 11) and one or more notches 121 depending on the number of times-the disk must transfer during one revolution. This is determined by the kind of type wheel the disk is carriedby. For example, the disk illustrated in Fig. 11 bears the reference numeral llp'lb as it is; associated with the tens minute typewheel 108' which as explained bears two sets of characters 0 to 5, 0 to 5.; As this wheel effects transfer when it passes from 5 to .0 it will be" seen that two 56. .1 transfers will be effected during-one revolution of, said type Wheel and hence this disk requires two notches 121', as shown, The diskassociatedwith the merediantype wheel will require a'notch for every two characters A.'M; and P. M. on the wheel.

552.; Thespur gears 119a and 119s are rotatably mounted on the shaft l22and are held in position by spacing sleeves 123, said shaft being sup ported by plates 30 andx'l9. .The'spur gears 1192) and 119d are'fixed to the shafts 1,24 and 125,1'espectively both shafts being journalled in the plates 30 and 79. The spur gears 119eis 'rotatabi'y; mounted on the shaft 126. These spur gears are all of the Geneva type having every other tooth cut awayto a narrower face than its adjacent tooth. Thus the two wide teeth 127-and 127aride on the periphery of the disk while the narrow tooth 128 meshes with the adjacent gear lleb (Eig.:,f11)jj-said' narrow tooth projecting intothe groove formed by the-shoulder 120. Adjacent the.

7 notch 121 and'on each side are projections 129 interceptingthe path of the shoulder 120. Asthe disk 117b revolves-the width teeth 127, resting on the periphery prevents the'spur gear 119b-from turning and therefore no motion is transferred to 7 the gear 118b,. When.oneofthe'projections 129 strikes thenarrow tooth,128,j: in the path of its. travel the wide tooth 127 is in a position to roll into the notch 121 and so the spurgear turns through one wide tooth the next succeeding tooth striking the periphery of the disk and holding the spur gear stationary until another notch'is encountered. When vthe spur gear 119 thus turns it turnsthe gear 113i) coacting with it thus ad-,

vancing the typewheel fixed to said gear.

*The units minute, wheel 107 therefore, is advanced periodically by the ratchetwheel 97 and coacting mechanisms previously explained, which transfers one step to the tens minute'wheel'108 for. eachrevoiution of the units minute wheel.

The tens minute wheel 108 transfers two steps to i the hour wheel 109 for every revolution, the'hour wheelt109'transfers, two steps to the meridian wheelllO for every revolution and the meridian wheel 110 transfers one step to the day wheel 112 forevery two-stepsit is advanced by the hour wheel 109.

Themethod of transferring from the meridian wheel to the day wheel'may be explained by referringto Figs. 5, 6, 9 and-i0. A gear 130 is fixed to the, shaft 125 to which the spur gear 119d is fixed as previously explained. This gear 130 meshes with a gear 131 fixed to a sleeve132 rotatabiy mounted on a shaft 133 said shaft being supported by theplates' 73 and 33. Fixedalso to the sleeve 132 is a gear 134 which m'esheswith a gear 135., Said gear 135 is rotatably mounted on a stud 136, said gear and stud being mounted in a cutout portion of 'a-solid disk 137 which is integral with, agear .138 and which is rotatably mounted. on theshaft 133;, The periphery of the gear 135" extends ron each side of said disk l37-meshing with a gear 134 on one side and a gear139 on the other. i The gear 139 is fixed to a sleeve 140 on thelopposite end of which is fixed a gear 141; Both last mentioned gears and sleevearerotataloleon' the shaft 133. Meshing with" the gear 141 is agear 142 whichis, fixed to: the sleeve on which the day wheel1l2 is mounted. It will be notedfrorn Fig; 10 that the day type wheel is cut.

away in the center so that the gears 141 and 142 liein the; same plane with the type wheel 112. When, therefore, a transfer is initiated through the spur gear 113d said transfer is transmitted to the day wheel 112 through the gear train as fol-, lows: gears130, 131, 134, 136, 139, 141,,to gear 142 fixed tot-he type wheel. Gear 138 remains stationary exceptwhen manual setting is required. To effect manual settingajshaft 1.43 (Fig. 5) is provided with'key' receiving means. 144 atone end extending through the plate 30A in which said shaft is ,journalledw the other 1 end being journalled in the plateBO. Mounted on a collar 7 145 fixed to said shaft is a gear 146 which meshes with the gear, 138. Fixed also to. the shaft 143 isanaligningwheel 14'? (Fig. 13'). .Coacting with the indentations of said aligning wheel'is one end ofan aligning pawl slidabiy mounted on astud 149 fixedto the'supportingplate 30a theother end of saidpawl coasts with the flatsides of a duplex-aligning member 150 fixed to" the shaft 126.,thepurposeof which will he explained later. Said aligning pawl is biased against the two aligning, members, by the spring 152 secured'at 'oneend tothe aligning pawl 148. and-at the other eIfdtO a stud 153 on the plate 30a. This align-1 ing pawl therefore acts as an impositive stop for the day wheel112 and also, for the month wheel 113. When the shaft 1 13 isturned by meansof a key provided for the purpose the gear 138 is turned. by means of thegear, 146; The i gear 135 being carried around with the gear 138 in a planetary motion is rotated by being rolled around the periphery of the gear 134 which is now fixed. The gear 139 therefore is driven by the gear 135 in the same direction as the gear 138 and therefore advances the day wheel 112. Thus the provision of a diiferential in this manner permits the manual setting of the type wheel without disconnecting said type wheel from its normal driving means and without unlocking any of the locking means.

The manual setting of the month wheel 113 is effected by means of a key not shown, which may coact with key receiving means 154 provided'on the end of the shaft: 126 said shaft being journalled in the supporting plates 80 and 30A (Fig. 10). Fixed .to the shaft 126 is a gear 155 meshing with a gear 156 fixed to the month type wheel ,113. Turning this shaft 126 therefore rotates the month type wheel and bymeans of the duplex aligning member 150 andits coacting pawl 148 (Fig. 13) previously explained said type wheel .is held impositively in whatever position set.

The year type wheel 116 is advanced one step for every revolution of the month type wheel through the disk 117e, gear 118e and spur gear 119e, these being of the sametype of'transfer mechanism previously described.

Ribbon feed mechanism provided with holes running laterally through. their centers and the holes are provided at each end with bushings 162 having a square hole to cooperate with the square shank 163 of the spindles 33a and 33b, saidspindles supporting said spools. The end ofth'e shank 163 is bifurcated I one of the bifurcations 164 being formed into a hook shaped member which cooperates with a shoulder in a square hole in'the ratchet wheel 165b thus formingan impositive catch'which holds the spindle in cooperation with the ratchet wheel so that the turning of said ratchet wheel turns its cooperating spindle and with it its associated ribbon spool. 33b opposite the ratchet. wheel 165b is journalled in the supporting plate 30. Due to the latch 164 being of an impositive nature the spindle 33b may be withdrawn for removing the spool 161b for replacement of the ink ribbon. A spring 166b fixed to the supporting plate 30 presses against,

- the head of the spool 161b thus preventing the spool from dropping out when the spindle 33b is removed. This is'important inasmuch as the spindles have to be withdrawn whenever the side plates 24 and 24a are removed which may be for The the supporting plate 30a on one side and in brackets 167a and 167b on the other. These brackets are mounted on studs 168a and 168D fixed to the mounting plate 30a. Friction, hubs 169a and 16% are recessed into the holes in these ratchet wheels and are held inunder tension of friction springs 170a and 17Gb also fixed to the studs 168a and 168b, the purpose of which is to prevent any overthrow of travel of the ribbon spools when they are advanced and thus attempt to spin under their own momentum. The spindle 33a, ribbon spool 161a, ratchet wheel 165a and parts associated therewith are exactly member 181 from swinging. about its pivot1'79 and limit the member 181 therefor to a substan- Said ink ribbon is wound on two spools The end of the spindle the same as the spindle 33b, ribbon spools 161b, ratchet wheel-165b and their associated parts and the description regarding the former just given is equally applicable to the latter Means are'provided' whereby the ink ribbon" is moved slightly each time the printing'head is depressed in order to present a fresh portion of the ribbon to the type wheels at each printing operation. This is accomplished by means of a lever 57 pivoted at 58 on a turned down portion 5 56 of the bracket 48. Said lever cooperates with an adjustable limit piece 175 fixed to the base When the printing head of the time stamp is moved downward the right hand end of the lever 57 as viewed in Fig. 4 coacts with the limit" piece 175 causing said lever to turn counterclockwise about its pivot 58. The left hand end of the lever 57 is formed over at right angles and cooperates with a lever 176 pivoted at 17 7 and biased in a clockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 8 by a' spring 178 fastened to'the lever 176 at one end and to the tie rod 81 at the other end, thus normally supporting the lever 57 in the position shown in-Fig. 4. Fixed to the lever 176 is a stud 1'79 which extends through an enlarged hole 180106 in the supporting plate30a= Pivoted to said stud is an irregular shaped member 181 (Fig. 8) the lower projection of which is bifurcated, said bifurcation straddling a stud 182 to prevent the tially parallel motion in a vertical direction. Pivoted to two other projections of the member .181 are ribbon feed pawls 183a and.183b adapt- I ed to cooperate with ratchet wheels 165a and ing head and with it the regular shapedmember- 181 carrying the ribbon feed pawls 18311.

The pawl 183a being in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 165a said ratchet wheel is rotatedan amount equivalent to one tooth when said pawl moves downward. When the printing head returns to normal position the pawl 1650 is raised and engages the next succeeding tooth'the ratchet wheel being prevented from rotating back with the pawl by the friction spring 170a. In this manner the ink ribbon is gradually wound onto the spool 161a. With the pawl 183b engaged with the ratchet wheel 1651) the ribbon will be wound on the spool 161b.

Ribbon reversing mechanism Two members 186a and.186b .curved'to con form with the contour of the ribbon spools are pivoted on shafts 187a and 187b respectively 1 0 -=centerci the link 190 is a projectionfwlhaving uthe right'handuscrew' head.- Two "projections an elongated hole through which'proj-ects a: stud 192 said stud being fixed to a lever 193 pivoted "on a stud 194 fixed to the's'upportin'g plate a. A stud 195 mounted on thelever 193 has fixed thereto one end of'a-spring 196, the other end -of-which is fixedto a stud 197 mounted on a V shaped member 198 said memberbeingpivotally mounted on a stud 199 fixedto the supporting plate 30m The spring' 196 is under'ten'sion at all times-its ends biased in opposite directions with the result :themember 198 and the lever 193 are always endeavoring to push each other 515 193 projects through ahole 200 in the support ing plate SOathe sides of said hole coasting with --'the stud projection to. serve as a limit stop for themovementof the le'ver1'93. The lower end 0f: the two legs of the 'V-shaped member 198 are formed at an angle with said member as indi I catediat 201a and'201b in Fig. 9. Thesepro jections coact with the screw heads 82 which serveas limit stops 'forthemovement of the V shaped 'member 198.,

in opposite directions. .The stud 195 on the lever In Fig. 9 the section isztaken so as not to show 202a and 292b (Figs. 8 and 9) on the 'legs of the shaped member 198:are formed over to inter- .respe'ctive ratchet wheel. -the mechanismas illustrated in Fig. 8 the lever cept and coactwith the'feed pawls 183a and 1183b respectively in a =manner such .that only one of the pawls at a time is engaged with its In the position of 193 is at" its extreme left hand. limit travel I her 198 is thrown to itsextreme right hand limit of travel holding the pawl 1831] out of engagement with the ratchet wheel1l6 5b and permit- :ting-engagemeht betweenpawl 183a and its coacting ratchet wheel a. "Thus'when the feed mechanism operates as previously explainedthe ribbon will be'wound up on the ribbon spool 161?). The stud'192 coacting with the projection in the link will move this link to its extreme -..-1eft*h and limit of travel as viewed in Fig. '8 thus ;movinglthe "right hand'roller 18927 to its closest position. adjacent "the ribbon spool lfilb. As

the ribbon is wound onto this spool the'accumu-' lating layers of ribboniwill constantly increase .the diameter of the spindle portion of said spool until the diameter increases sufficiently to coact I with the-roller. 'As the diameter continues toincreasethe rollerwill'be forced to the right moving about its pivot 187?) and moving the link 190 to the right with it. Lever 193. will be .ro=-

tated clockwise about itsgpivotl 194 by the link 190 untilthe stud 195 passes to the right of the stud 197 at which time the opposing action of the'sprin'g196 willswing the vV shaped member 198 clockwise-about. itspivot .199, with a'quick shutter like action said member withdrawing the oszment of the feedpawl 1831) with its coac'ting 'feed pawl. 183a from engagement with the "ratchet wheel 1651). It will now readily be seen fifeed of the ribbon is againreversed.

The 'dial works generally. indicated at 205 and October '15, 1928.

r to operate their associated contacts latdiiferent: and through thespring 19'6'the V shaped meme every minute thereby energizing the relay mag-'2 net coil 21'? each minute: causing its armature 7 minute.

su'ch a duration is sent out over wire A each min-' 335 etc. wire B as long as. contacts 219 of the backbon "of circling-The rapid impulse contacts 210 are 13 cam'212 is timed to close its associated contact V 211 at '59 minutes and 10 seconds after the hour i that successive feeding actions of the ribbon :feeding mechanism will reverse the direction of the ribbon: to wind :it on spool 161a; which when full will. force the roller. 189a to the'left to again displace the ribbon feed mechanism until it takes-the position as shown 1 in J Fig. 8' when the over the'A -wire. The net result of the transmis- 't i igesaoee each endof the's hafts -189a a'nd 189b. -"In the havinga' worm wheel 20'! fixed thereto and meshing with a'worm 208 integral with the drive shaft- 98, the lower end of the shait 206 being journa'iled in a bracket 299 to the intermediate suppcrting plaie 79 (Figs. 4 and 5) and 3t the upper portion oiwhich is journalled in the plate supporting the dial works.

and may be corrected through some external i current interruptions the stampsare thrown out of synchronism with the masterclcck, may'besti j "be shown by reference to the wiring diagram'fin Fig.14 in which the time stamp magnet 49,..the

cominutators and coacting brushes 71, 72 8116173 are together with the master clock contacts, relay vcontrol and associated Iwiring shown:dia-C'-- grammatically.v a I The control circuits and master clock switching; mechanism are the same as fully described in the patent to J. W. Bryce No. 1,687,491, dated 'Thecommutator brushes71, 72 and 73.0n the time stamp. are connected to three lines. A, B, and C respectively ."of a'three wire circuit running irom the control relays and contacts. Li es A and B are the normal impulse transmiting lines and line 0 being the common return. Inthe master clock'the cams 212, 214 and 21 6 are rotated by a gear train not shown connected to the time train oft-he clock. The cams .are designed timed periods to be explained later. The contact 210 mounted on the verge of the clock v I,mGVe111e1lt, i diagrammatically shown, which is :oscillatedback'and forth by the pendulum in the usual manner. I which is generally used the contact 210 would With. a 60 beat pendulum" close fievery-two seconds and therefore *are termed. hereinaiterjthe rapid impulse contacts.

The cam zlgoperates its associated contact-213 to be attracted thus closing the contact 218 every The duration of this closure is approximately one second so that an electric impulse of Said=impulse is likewise transmitted over tact. relay220are closed. I The relay coil 22o is actuated by the closing'of contact 215 which is controlled by the cam 216. In the present ar- 'rangement the contact 215 closes 44' minutes after the hour and opens 59 minutes and '50 seconds after the hour so that'the contact 219 is openedduring this period holding the E line out and to open said contact at o minutes and .0

seconds atterthe hour thustran'sn itting impulsesevery two secondsa's initiated'by the closingof contacts 210 fora periodofSi) seconds. It willbenoted from this timing schedule that the contact 219 is open and; therefore the wireB is out of circuit during thetransinission of these rapidimpulses so that they'are transmitted only are transmitted over the A wire each minute of the hour, these minute impulses arealso transmited over the B wire on the evenhour andeach minute thereafter to the thiminute after the hour after which the line B is out of circuit or dead untilthe next 60th minute or even hour. Rapid impulses are transmitted over wire A only for 30 seconds between 59 minutes 10 seconds after the hour and 59,minutes seconds after the hour.

The commutator on the time stamp which is rotated in unison with the minute type Wheel is provided, with three concentric conducting segments 75, 76, and 77. Segment 75 being annular and continuous, segment 76 extending approximately 90 with the adjacent 270 being an insulated segment, and segment 77 extending approximately 270 with an adjacent insulating segment for the remaining 90. The driving magnet 49 of the time stamp is connected from line C in series with the brush 73 which wipes on the segment75. The segments '76 and 77 are wiped by brushes 72 and 71 respectively. Phe three segments 75, 76 and 77 are electrically connected together so that any impulses flowing over the brushes 71 or 72 that are in contact with either of the conducting segments 75 or 76 will be communicated to the segment 75 and thence through the brush 73 to the magnet 49. The segments are arranged so that the timi of their passage by i 1 the brushes ties'in properly with the control timing. Brush 71 passes from the conducting segment 77 to its adjacent insulated segment when thetirne stamp jumps from the 58th to the 59th minute and at the same time the brush 72 passes from the insulated portion to the conducting segment 76, thus disconnecting the stamp from line A andconnecting it with line B at that time. The reverse takes place when the time stamp jumps from the 14th to the 15th minute.

If the stamps are all in synchronism with the master no synchronism takes place or is necessary, the magnet 49 receiving regular minute impulses through the A wire and segment 77 until the 59th minute and then through the B wir and segment 76 on the 60th minute.

will have their brushes 71 contact with the segment 73 at the time the rapid impulses are initiated so that such stamps will be stepped ahead rapidly until the brush 71 breaks contact with said segment which will have brought said stamp up to the 59th minute, those stamps that are on time will have already broken contact between the brush 71 and segment 77 and will therefore not receive anyof the rapid impulses. Those stamps which are fast will arrive at their 59th minute position before the master clock which will have caused a break in the minute impulse circuit over the A wire by virtue of the brush 71 breaking contact with the segment 77 and thus cause these stamps to stop operation on their 59th minute position. The 3 line being cut out of circuit no impulses will come through the brush 72 which is in contact with the segment 76 when the stamp reaches its 59th minute position. All stamps having been brought now to the 59th minute position step ahead on the 60th minute as the B lineis cut in 10 seconds before the minute impulse for the 60th minute is in-- itiated.

While I have shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the'art without departing from the spirit of the invention. I intend to be limited therefore only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim: a r

1. In a timestamp, in combination, a base, an arm pivoted-on said base having a downward projection, a spring attached at one end to said base, an anchor plate attached to the other end of said spring having an aperture cooperating with said downward projection for raising said arm.

2. In a time stamp, in combination, a base, a spring attached at one end thereto, an anchor plate attached to the other end of said spring, an aperture in said anchor plate, an arm pivoted to said base having a downwardly projecting member projecting through said aperture and means for holding said anchor plate in position to receive said downward projecting member of said arm.

3. In a printing head type time stamp, a printing mechanism, a motor drive mechanism for operating the same, and self synchronizing means for the printing -mechanism including a commutator associated with said printing mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor drive mechanism.

4. In a printing head type time stamp, a pivoted arm, a printing mechanism pivoted thereto, a plurality of brush contacts mounted on said printing mechanism, a plurality of releasable contact brush receiving means and means whereby said contact brushes become disengaged from the contact brush receiving means when the printing mechanism is swung forward out of operating positionand are reengaged when said printing mechanism is swung back into operating position. I

5. In a time stamp, atrain-of gears for operating type wheels, means foroperating the units 1' gear of said train including a reciprocable member having an operating pawl mounted thereon, means for setting the units gear independently of the operating means and means operated bythe setting means for automatically disabling the operating pawl during a setting operation.

6. In a time stamp, a train of gears for operating type wheels, means for'operating the units member carrying an operating pawl coacting with said ratchet means for operating the ratchet independently of its operating pawl to permit setting of the units gear and means operated by the ratchet when moved for asetting operation for automatically removing the operating pawl from coacting relationship with the ratchet.

8. In a time stamp, a train of gears for operating type wheels, means for operating the units gear of said train including a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said units gear and a re-' ciprocable member with anoperatinggpawl pivjoted'thereon to coactwithsaid ratchet wheel, means independent of t the operating. pawl for turning said ratchet wheel to'effect settingof .the

units gear and a camming extension on saidpawl cooperating with the ratchet wheelto earn the in train, means for operating said vtype wheels; 5

ratchet .wheel .on one of said type wheels adapted to beadvanced. by said operating means, and means -for camming said operating means. out of operative relation withvsaid ratchet wheelupon the'manual operation ofsaid ratchet wheel;

CLINTON E. LARRABEE.

igo 

